The Devils acquired Kaapo Kahkonen and Jake Allen ahead of Friday's 3:00 P.M. trade deadline.

NEWARK, N.J. -- New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald acquired a second goaltender on Friday afternoon before the 3:00 P.M. deadline.

Multimedia broadcaster and analyst Kevin Weekes was the first to report that New Jersey acquired Kaapo Kahkonen from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Vitek Vanecek.

Earlier in the day, the Devils acquired veteran Jake Allen from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for New Jersey's conditional third-round selection in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Allen is signed through the 2024-25 season at $3.85 million. New Jersey confirmed that Montreal will retain 50 percent of his salary this year and next. At the conclusion of the contract, he will be an unrestricted free agent.

Allen was a goaltender who was on New Jersey's radar for a while. Fitzgerald revealed to the media that the veteran netminder waived his no movement clause to come to New Jersey. 

During his post-trade deadline media availability, Fitzgerald confirmed Akira Schmid was reassigned to the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League (AHL).

One of the biggest positives for New Jersey was eliminating Vanecek's cap hit of $3.4 million next season. It is worth noting that Kahkonen's contract expires after this season, and he will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

"(These moves) allow us to be able to be in on anything next summer and have the flexibility with what we believe will be available in the offseason," Fitzgerald said.

Vanecek was unable to recapture the success he had last season when the 28-year-old became the first Devils goaltender since Martin Brodeur to win 30-plus games last season.

He has been out of the lineup since Feb. 10. Fitzgerald later shared that he is unsure if Vanecek will play again this season due to his injury.

Newly acquired Kahkonen has a 6-20-3 record, a .895 save percentage, and a 3.81 goals-against average. He split time with former Devils' netminder Mackenzie Blackwood in San Jose.

"This was not about him. It was not about the goalie," Fitzgerald said of Kahkonen. "It was about the flexibility that this move gives us moving forward."

The Devils have 19 games remaining this season. Fitzgerald said that Daws was reassigned to the AHL and has been officially recalled.

The Devils next game will be Saturday afternoon when they host the Carolina Hurricanes at 12:30 P.M.

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